Byars, Otis and Ward on Hall of Fame Ballot

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June 1, 2017

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Three legendary Ohio State Buckeyes are among the 75 players from the Football Bowl Subdivision who have been named to the official ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the ballot for the 2018 class.

Only three nominees per school can advance past the district screening committee to the national ballot. Ohio State’s three players for consideration include:

RB Keith Byars — Ranks seventh at Ohio State in career rushing yards with 3,200, sixth with 4,369 all-purpose yards and second with 50 touchdowns scored … he was a unanimous All-American and Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1984 when he led the nation in rushing with a then-school record 1,764 yards, in all-purpose yards (a still-standing school record of 2,441 yards) and in scoring (144 points).

RB Jim Otis — A member of the 1968 national championship team and a consensus All-American in 1968 … he is one of only four Buckeyes to lead the team in rushing for three seasons … ranks 15th at Ohio State in rushing with 2,542 career yards.

Criteria for Hall of Fame consideration includes, first and foremost, first-team All-America recognition by a selector organization that is recognized by the NCAA and utilized to comprise its consensus All-America teams (Associated Press, Walter Camp, AFCA, FWAA and The Sporting News). While football achievements in college are of prime consideration, posts-football record as a citizen is also weighed.

The announcement of the 2018 Class will be made Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, in Atlanta.